Just ordered 2 new tyres for my freelander 2. Should they be fitted to the back or front or does it not matter ?. Seem to remember on freelander 1 they had to go on the rear due to the viscous coupling or something like that.

It does not matter mechanically with the FL2, more important is being on the same axle.

More down to personal preference really on whether you would have the front or rear breakaway through less grip with less tread.

That's what I was told as well -

New tyres on the front axle = less chance of understear / more chance of overstear (more bite at the front)
New tyres on the back axle = less chance of overstear / more chance of understear (more bite at the rear)

I have heard that Costco will only fit a pair of tyres to the rear axle, even if fronts are worn to the canvas they will swap old rears to front and fit new to rear. No exceptions and no reason/explanation given other than some vague reference to being sued in the USA!!

Mr Potter

I always fit the best tyres to the front being the steering as well as the driving and major braking wheels but a counter arguemnt is that when tread is getting low, theres more chance of the driver noticing the loss of grip through the steering. I'd still fit them to the front though. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Generally the convention is to fit new tyres to the rear, and rotate the rears to the front, due to the pendulum motion from lack of grip on the rear.